Western Washington University

Extended Education and Summer Programs

Bellingham, Washington

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

As part of Western Washington University's outreach mission, Extended Education offers a degree-completion program, credit and noncredit certificates, and stand-alone courses through print or online distance learning. Several sites in the Puget Sound region provide classroom-based certificate and degree programs.

Students come from all age groups and may use courses and programs to earn a degree or to bolster their careers. Many are employed full-time or have family obligations that require flexible course scheduling.

All courses and programs undergo careful scrutiny prior to being offered. Credit courses are equally as rigorous as those offered on campus.

DELIVERY MEDIA

A variety of media are employed to meet the needs of distant learners. Several courses are offered fully on-line using Blackboard course management software; many more are print-based. Some courses are supplemented with videotapes, audiocassettes, CDs, or interactive diskettes. Language courses that use the Cyrillic alphabet are enhanced by workbooks illustrating letter formation and pronunciation.

Students communicate with faculty members via e-mail, telephone, voice mail, surface mail or, when possible, in person.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

The final two years of a Bachelor of Arts in human services can be earned entirely online. Students may start any quarter and can graduate as soon as eighteen months, depending on credit load and starting quarter. Formal admission to the University is required. More information is available online at http://www.wce.wwu.edu/depts/hs/sites/cyber.shtml.

A certificate program in emergency management/homeland security is available online. The credit certificate may be used by students entering the field or increasing their level of skill. Dr. Wayne Blanchard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Higher Education Project Manager, gave approval to the instructors and curriculum. For more information, students should visit http://www.extendeded.wwu.edu/emergencymgmt.

The certificate in birth-to-five care requires completion of four credit-bearing courses. This program provides training for Early Head Start and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) workers, among others. For more information, students should visit http://www.extendeded.wwu.edu/birthto5.

More than 130 stand-alone credit courses, in thirty-five subjects, are available to all learners. Classes are offered at lower division, upper division, and graduate levels. Course lists can be found online at http://www.extendeded.wwu.edu/ilearn.

Educators, human services professionals, and others can use any of several online and print-based courses aimed at job enhancement or promotion. These professional development classes follow the quarter system, including a summer quarter. For a complete list and in-depth information, students should visit http://www.extendeded.wwu.edu/cil.

Since its founding in 1899, Western Washington University (WWU) has provided high-quality educational opportunities to the community, the region, the nation, and beyond. Western's distance education program began in 1912 and continues to grow and evolve in response to the times. WWU faculty members and administrators, many of them affiliated with distance learning, have recently garnered several important national awards. Among them are Columbia University's Bancroft Prize; the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering; North American Leader status from the American Association of Higher Education and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; and a Coastal and Ocean Resource Management Excellence Award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). U.S. News & World Report rates WWU as one of the top ten public master's-granting universities in the country. WWU is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities. The University holds membership in the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

WWU offers a minor in East Asian studies that can be completed wholly at a distance. Courses are primarily print-based and carry a nine-month completion deadline. To receive official recognition of the minor from WWU, students must be formally admitted to the University.

Several unique language courses are available through distance learning. Students may complete three quarters of Mongolian, taught by a former lawyer from Mongolia. One quarter each of elementary Greek and Latin are also offered. Specially designed supplements—audiotapes and work-books—are used in some language courses.

STUDENT SERVICES

Students have access to thousands of databases and interlibrary loan through the WWU library, one-onone advising on course and program selection, and access to an information technology help desk. For those considering online study, a sample course is available to demonstrate Blackboard. Students may check grades and transcripts online during the academic quarter of enrollment.

Extended Education staff members provide personalized assistance to current and future students from 8 to 5 (Pacific Time), Monday–Friday, by phone, e-mail, or in person.

CREDIT OPTIONS

College credits earned through distance learning courses are recorded on a WWU transcript and carry the same weight as those gained through traditional classroom study. Up to 90 quarter hours of distance learning credits can be applied to a WWU bachelor's degree.

FACULTY

All faculty members are approved by the appropriate department prior to developing a course. Most teach the same courses on campus and nearly all have a terminal degree, usually a doctorate, in their subject area. Many have won local or national awards for teaching excellence or professional achievement. The majority of faculty members are available for student interaction through e-mail, phone, or voice mail.

ADMISSION

Formal admission to WWU is required for the human services on-line degree program. General University application materials must be submitted to the WWU Office of Admissions concurrently with application to the WWU Woodring College of Education Human Services Department. For details, prospective students should visit http://www.wce.wwu.edu/depts/hs/admission/appprocess.shtml.

TUITION AND FEES

Course tuition varies among programs and is subject to change upon action by the Board of Trustees. At the time of publication, tuition for independent learning (print-based correspondence) courses was $93 per credit; tuition for online courses was $163 per credit for undergraduate courses, $183 for graduate-level courses. Fees for certificate modules vary. Other fees may apply for admission, registration, and materials.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available only for programs that require formal admission to the University. Matriculated Western Washington University students who are taking distance learning courses in addition to classroom courses are sometimes eligible for financial aid.

CONTACT

Extended Education and Summer Programs
MS 5293
Western Washington University
516 High Street
Bellingham, Washington 98225-5996
Telephone: 360-650-3308
Fax: 360-650-3486
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.extendeded.wwu.edu

APPLYING

Print-based courses are available to anyone for enrollment at any time. Many online courses are also open to anyone but follow the academic calendar. Interested students may review course descriptions on the Web site or call or e-mail for a printed catalog. Students may register by phone, confidential fax, or surface mail. People interested in the human services B.A. completion program should see the Admission section above.